Affective and Voluntary Labor in Post-Yugoslav Societies and the Politics of the Future

Disastrous floods that hit Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in May 2014 have mobilized large number of citizens of former Yugoslav societies. Prompted by delayed or inappropriate reaction of states and institutions, the citizens formed voluntary working brigades, donated food and necessary supplies, provided practical and psychological help to those affected. Narratively, these citizens’ actions were framed through numerous references to practices, skills and values that were characteristic for Yugoslav socialism. Scrutinizing the ways in which the value of voluntary and affective labor was reactualized during the floods, this paper discusses the ways citizens of former Yugoslav societies claim agency and morality that are perceived as largely absent in their sociopolitical reality.